Draft beer supply chain systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Supply chain systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring fluid levels in liquid containers, such as kegs. Embodiments include sensors that fit within a keg&#39;s false bottom, measure the weight of the keg, and transmit the weight information to a computer database via a wireless network. Other embodiments include an RFID device with information about a characteristic of the liquid within a keg (such as brand and/or type of beer) that may be attached to the keg and paired with the sensor so the sensor can transmit information about the characteristic of the liquid in the keg. In alternate embodiments, the sensor&#39;s transmitter is short range and an uplink/gateway is used to receive information from the sensor and relay that sensor&#39;s information to a broader wireless network. Multiple containers in close proximity may each be fitted with an RFID device and sensor and communicate their individual information to the database.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/459,283 filed Mar. 15, 2017, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,791,383on Sep. 29, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/956,003 filed Dec. 1, 2015, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,617,140 on Apr. 11, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/837,639 filed Mar. 15, 2013, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,221,667 on Dec. 29, 2015, which application claimspriority to Provisional Application No. 61/651,531 filed May 24, 2012.The aforementioned applications and patents are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety, for any purpose.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to managing informationrelated to inventory and distribution, such as the inventory anddistribution of draft (draught) beer. Further embodiments of the presentinventions relate to monitoring of draft beer and other bulk beverageinventories, and to related data analysis, including automated ordering,prompting for ordering, and mobile marketing.

BACKGROUND

Establishments such as restaurants and bars frequently receive productsconsumed by customers, such as beverages, from distributors. When anestablishment runs low on certain products, the establishment typicallycontacts the distributor to resupply the establishment's stock ofproducts. However, this process can be time consuming, especially whenit is difficult for the establishment to ascertain the quantity ofcertain products, such as when those products are supplied in bulk, suchas in kegs. It was realized by the inventors of the current disclosurethat improvements in the supply chain for certain products, such as beerin kegs, are needed. Certain features of the present disclosure addressthese and other needs and provide other important advantages.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved draft beer supplychain systems and methods.

In accordance with one aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure,a method is disclosed, the method including attaching a wirelesselectronic communication device to a container with liquid, the wirelesselectronic communication device being encoded with information relatingto a characteristic of the liquid within the container; attaching asensor/transmitter to the container; transferring information relatingto a characteristic of the liquid within the container from the wirelesselectronic communication device to the sensor/transmitter; determiningthe quantity of the fluid within the container with thesensor/transmitter; and transmitting information related to the weightof the container and the type of liquid within the container from thesensor/transmitter to a computer database via a wireless network.

In accordance with another aspect of embodiments of the presentdisclosure, an apparatus in disclosed, the apparatus including asensor/transmitter adapted to attach to the container,sensor/transmitter including a liquid quantity sensor configured andadapted to detect the amount of liquid within the container, a receiverthat receives information related to the liquid in the container from awireless electronic communication device, and a transmitter thatreceives information from the receiver and from the liquid quantitysensor, wherein the transmitter transmits information received from thereceiver and the liquid quantity sensor to a wireless network.

In accordance with still another aspect of embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a system is disclosed, the system including a plurality ofwireless electronic communication devices, each encodable withinformation identifying a characteristic of liquid within a container,each wireless electronic communication device being attachable to acontainer; a plurality of sensors each attachable to a container, eachsensor configured and adapted to measure the quantity of liquid withinthe container to which the sensor is attached, receive information fromone of the plurality of wireless electronic communication devicesattached to the same container as each sensor, the information relatingto at least one characteristic of the liquid within the container towhich the one wireless electronic communication device and the sensor isattached, and transmit information to a wireless network, thetransmitted information including information from the wirelesselectronic communication device including the characteristic of theliquid within the container to which the sensor is attached, andinformation about the weight of the container to which the sensor isattached; and a computer database that receives and stores informationfrom the plurality of sensors via the wireless network.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of the concepts thatare described in further detail in the detailed description and drawingscontained herein. This summary is not intended to identify any primaryor essential features of the claimed subject matter. Some or all of thedescribed features may be present in the corresponding independent ordependent claims, but should not be construed to be a limitation unlessexpressly recited in a particular claim. Each embodiment describedherein is not necessarily intended to address every object describedherein, and each embodiment does not necessarily include each featuredescribed. Other forms, embodiments, objects, advantages, benefits,features, and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent toone of skill in the art from the detailed description and drawingscontained herein. Moreover, the various apparatuses and methodsdescribed in this summary section, as well as elsewhere in thisapplication, can be expressed as a large number of differentcombinations and subcombinations. All such useful, novel, and inventivecombinations and subcombinations are contemplated herein, it beingrecognized that the explicit expression of each of these combinations isunnecessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the figures shown herein may include dimensions or may have beencreated from scaled drawings. However, such dimensions, or the relativescaling within a figure, are by way of example, and not to be construedas limiting.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure sensor installed on thebottom of a keg according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2-3 illustrate installation of one form of pressure sensor on thebottom of the keg according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the bottom of a pressure sensoraccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the top of the pressure sensor depictedin FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the pressure sensor depicted inFIG. 4A.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side elevational views of the pressure sensordepicted in FIG. 4A being installed on the bottom of a keg according toone embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top/side/rear view of a sensor installation apparatus foruse in various embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of a sound wave-based keg volume sensor for usein various embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an uplink/gateway according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a bulk beverage informationcollection, management, processing, and action system according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a bulk beverage informationcollection, management, processing, and action system according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of distribution, reporting, ordering, andprocessing of bulk beverage information according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a keg location monitoring system in yet anotherembodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates the pairing and installation of a sensor/transmitterto a keg with an electronic identification device according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a bulk beverage informationcollection, management, processing and action system according anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a computer used in variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to one or more embodimentsillustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended; any alterations andfurther modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, andany further applications of the principles of the disclosure asillustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to oneskilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. At least oneembodiment of the disclosure is shown in great detail, although it willbe apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features orsome combinations of features may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Any reference to “invention” within this document is a reference to anembodiment of a family of inventions, with no single embodimentincluding features that are necessarily included in all embodiments,unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, although there may be referencesto “advantages” provided by some embodiments, other embodiments may notinclude those same advantages, or may include different advantages. Anyadvantages described herein are not to be construed as limiting to anyof the claims.

Specific quantities (spatial dimensions, temperatures, pressures, times,force, resistance, current, voltage, concentrations, wavelengths,frequencies, heat transfer coefficients, dimensionless parameters, etc.)may be used explicitly or implicitly herein, such specific quantitiesare presented as examples only and are approximate values unlessotherwise indicated. Discussions pertaining to specific compositions ofmatter, if present, are presented as examples only and do not limit theapplicability of other compositions of matter, especially othercompositions of matter with similar properties, unless otherwiseindicated.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes asystem/method for measuring the amount of liquid in a portable liquidcontainer and wirelessly communicating that information to a database inorder to automatically establish/maintain an inventory of the amount offluid in each container. Particular embodiments include detecting thelevel of beer in a keg and relaying that information to a centraldatabase that can be used, for example, by a distributor to know whencertain kegs need to be replenished.

At least one embodiment includes: a sensor for detecting the fluidlevel; an identification device that identifies the brand/type of fluid(beer); a transmitter/link that wirelessly connects the sensor and IDdevice to a database; and a database for maintaining the information(likely connected to a wireless network).

Detecting the level of fluid (beer) in each individual container (keg)may be accomplished in at least two ways. One is a weight sensorattached to the bottom of the portable keg. Another is a sensor thatdetermines the fluid level by generating and evaluating a signaldirected to the container. One example is a transmitter that transmitsenergy into the container. Another example is a transmitter thatreflects energy (e.g., sound waves) off the surface of the liquid

Identifying the brand/type of fluid (beer) in each individual container(keg) may be accomplished in at least two ways. One is to encodeinformation related to the brand/type of liquid (beer) in each container(keg) to the fluid level sensor attached to each keg. Another is to usea device separate from the fluid level sensor and encoded this separatedevice with the brand/type of beer in the keg. This separateidentification device can be attached to each container (such as to thehand grip holes in a keg) using, e.g., a bracket, zip tie, clip, bayonetfitting, etc.

The transmitter can receive information from both the fluid level sensorand the identification device and can wirelessly relay this information(e.g., using established wireless networks) to a database. In oneembodiment, the transmitter is included with the fluid level sensor;however, other variations include a transmitter included with theidentification device or a transmitter that is separate from both thefluid level sensor and the identification device.

At least one embodiment utilizes a combined fluid level sensor andtransmitter with a separate identification device. The identificationdevice may be a wireless communication device (such as an RFID device,which may take the form of an RFID tag and/or a bar code display), ormay require physical connection (such as a thumb drive or the like). Inuse, a delivery person can arrive at a bar/restaurant with a keg thathas an RFID device attached identifying the brand/type of beer (or othercharacteristic of the liquid in the container to which the RFID deviceis associated) in the keg. A combined fluid level sensor and transmitter(which can be generic and used with any keg) is attached to thecontainer (keg), which may be accomplished prior to delivery to thecustomer, and the combined sensor/transmitter is paired with the RFIDdevice. Once paired, the sensor/transmitter can transmit informationrelated to the amount of beer and the brand/type of beer (or othercharacteristic(s) of the liquid) in the keg to the database. Multiplekegs and sensor/transmitters can be monitored and information about thekegs can be maintained, interpreted, and disseminated in a variety ofways that may be useful to brewers, distributors, sales establishments,and/or customers. See, e.g., FIGS. 10-12 and 14 .

A user of the database can be able to use real-time information aboutthe kegs in a variety of ways, such as enabling the distributor toautomatically deliver fresh kegs when needed or to provide real-timeinformation to consumers so the consumer can determine whichbars/restaurants have their preferred beverage in stock. Variousembodiments include database interfaces for the restaurant owner,customers, distributors and beer manufacturers that may be used in avariety of combinations to facilitate the efficient delivery of liquidin bulk containers for consumption.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure uses on-keg monitoringdevices to keep track of substantially real-time levels of draft beer ininventories of on-premise beer retailers. Data collector(s) at each siteperiodically transmit the data to a centralized data storage andprocessing facility. Alerts are sent to key personnel when it is time toplace another order, and supply chain mechanisms leverage the data forefficient resource planning and movement at all stages. Consumers areable to find favorite beers by accessing the inventory data through amobile app, and other uses are made of the collected data.

The draft beer industry employs re-usable aluminum kegs to distributedraft beer. The kegs are simple aluminum vessels that can be filled withbeer, pressurized, and then the beer flows out of a top-mountedvalve/spout. The keg typically embodies no technology beyond a simplepressure valve/spout on the top.

Kegs are often designed with a spherical round bottom that is surroundedor collared with a round aluminum sheath that allows the keg to situpright and level. This collar on the bottom of the keg, combined withthe spherical round bottom, creates a constructed void or space underthe keg. All kegs have this empty space under the main containerportion.

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sensor andtransmitter (which may be referred to as a sensor/transmitter) thatattaches to the bottom of the keg, such as fitting in this space underthe bottom of the keg. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 , thesensor 100 is generally a pressure sensor, which in at least oneembodiment is an analog electronic device that converts weight into ananalog value calibrated to the weight of a full keg. When the sensor 100is mounted to the bottom of the keg, the sensor weight element 108 restson the floor. In some use scenarios, kegs are stacked on top of eachother. In such situations, the system vendor can supply a rigid, hardplastic mat (not shown) that can fit on the top of a keg to provide ahard, level surface for the keg sensor/transmitter on the next layer upto sit on. In this stacking scenario, the sensors on the bottom kegs canbe adjusted to account for there being more than one keg resting on topof the sensor weight element 108, such as by transferring weightinformation to/from the kegs above. In the illustrated embodiment,sensor 100 has a circular center portion with connection bracketsextending outward in a generally star-shaped configuration, althoughother shapes are contemplated.

The sensor 100 registers pressure from the weight of the keg. In thecase of a full keg that has a maximum volume and weight, the sensorregisters a maximum analog value, which is converted in the presentembodiment into a digital value by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)onboard the microcontroller chip in the sensor/transmitter unit. In someembodiments, the conversion uses an 8-bit value, while in others,another range of digital outputs (such as 0-20) is used. Using thislatter form as an example, as the keg is depleted, the value changesfrom 20 to 19, 18, 17, etc. all the way down to 0 (zero), which is thevalue corresponding to the weight of an empty keg. The kegsensor/transmitter electronics communicate the weight value of 0-20 tothe keg transmitter. The keg transmitter may be housed in the bottom ofthe keg and may be connected by wire (or wireless) to the keg sensor. Inthe present embodiment, the keg transmitter communicates with the localuplink/gateway (such as using ZigBee and/or Bluetooth protocols), whichcommunicates with a larger network (such as a cellular telephone networkor a mesh network). Alternate embodiments utilize alternate wirelessdata transmission technologies as will occur to those skilled in the artin view of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the keg sensorcan remain asleep and wake up periodically to receive an signal relatedto the current weight of the keg, communicate with the network (e.g.,the cellular network, which may be via the local uplink/gateway) andtransfer data to and/or from a database (which may take approximately10-20 seconds in some embodiments), then go back to sleep. In oneembodiment, the keg sensor wakes up and communicates with the networkonce every hour. In other embodiments, the sensor will wake up more orless frequently depending on the time of day or the day of theweek/year. In still other embodiments, the sensor wakes up based on aschedule received from a database, which may be adjusted by thedatabase. For example, if an algorithm evaluating data form a databasedetermines that beer A is selling quickly and beer B is not sellingquickly, a command can be sent through the network to one or moresensors associated with beer A (e.g., through a cellular network, whichmay be sent to the sensor via a local uplink/gateway) instructing theone or more sensors associated with beer A to wake up and communicatewith the database every 20 minutes and/or a command can be sent throughthe network to one or more sensors associated with beer B instructingthe one or more sensors associated with beer B to wake up andcommunicate with the database every 2 hours.

In at least one embodiment, the keg transmitter may also have a flashmemory that has been preprogrammed with several software parameters. Oneof these parameters can be a Serial Number corresponding to theindividual keg sensor/transmitter. That is, each and every keg sensorTransmitter can have its own unique Serial Number that is programmedinto the software when the unit is manufactured. In addition to theSerial Number, the software version number may be pre-programmed. Thekeg transmitter software may also be programmed with certain functionsand intelligence. In this embodiment, the software may be programmed atthe factory to perform various functions, including waking itself upevery X number of hours and transmitting a signal via a wireless network(e.g., ZigBee and/or Bluetooth) to check whether it is in range of anuplink/gateway. When the transmitter is shipped to an equippedwarehouse, the keg transmitter can first wake up and connect with anuplink/gateway. At that point, the keg transmitter can begin to checkfor an uplink/gateway every hour.

Depicted in FIGS. 4-6 is a sensor 200 according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Sensor 200 is configured and adapted to attachto the bottom of a large beverage container (such as a beer keg) andsense the weight of the container. Sensor 200 includes one or morefasteners 202 that prevent sensor 200 from falling off the keg when thekeg is lifted off the support surface. Sensor 200 also includes one ormore abutment surfaces 203 that abut the bottom surface of the keg andpermit sensor 200 and support the keg keeping it slightly elevated abovethe support surface. In the illustrated embodiment, sensor 200 isdoughnut-shaped (toroidal) being generally circular with a circularaperture in the center, although other shapes are contemplated.

When installed, sensor 200 attaches inside the cavity (false bottom) onthe underside of the keg (see, e.g., FIGS. 6A and 6B) and does notextend to the outside surface of the keg, and may be sufficientlyremoved from the bottom edge of the keg (as depicted in FIG. 6B) so thatsensor 200 does not contact the support surface and is not damaged whenthe keg is tipped onto its bottom edge/lip and rolled/rotated as iscommonly done when moving kegs. In the illustrated embodiment, sensor200 includes five fasteners 202 that clip to the inside of the lip thatforms the bottom of the keg. See e.g., FIGS. 6A and 6B. In at least oneembodiment, fasteners 202 are configured and adapted to allow a user toattach sensor 200 to a keg and detach sensor 200 from a keg using onlythe user's hands. In FIG. 6B the sensor is depicted as flexing andsnapping firmly into place on the rolled lip, although other embodimentsaffix to the keg is different, yet secure, fashions.

Sensor 200 further includes a receiver 204 that receives data from anelectronic device (typically attached to a keg, such as an RFID device)containing information about a characteristic of the fluid within thekeg. (As used herein, a characteristic of the fluid within a kegincludes, but is not limited to, the brand-name, type, manufacture date,or other characteristic about the fluid a distributor, retail seller, orconsumer would be concerned with). Sensor 200 further includes atransmitter 206 that communicates with a wireless network and cantransmit information concerning a characteristic of the fluid in the kegto which sensor 200 is attached (received from an RFID device 220associated with the keg via receiver 204) and information about theweight of the keg to the wireless network. (See, e.g., FIG. 14 ).

In alternate embodiments receiver 204 is both a receiver and atransmitter capable of two-way communication with the electronic device(e.g., RFID device) associated with the keg containing information aboutthe liquid contained within the keg.

In alternate embodiments transmitter 206 is a receiver and a transmittercapable of two-way communication with the wireless network.

Sensor 200 further includes one or more weight sensors 208 that sensethe weight of the keg (such as by measuring the pressure exerted on theweight sensor 208 by a support surface upon which sensor 200 and the kegare placed). Four weight sensors 208 are depicted in the embodimentrepresented by FIGS. 4-6 . In embodiments with fewer than three weightsensors, additional supports can be utilized so that the keg to whichsensor 200 is attached is stable and will not easily tip when resting ona support surface.

Sensor 200 can include a battery compartment 210 for housing a batteryto provide electrical power to the various components of sensor 200.

Sensor 200 may also include an optional RFID pairing capability in whicha user can pair sensor 200 with an RFID device 220 (e.g., an RFID tag)containing information about the liquid in the container to which sensor200 is (or will be) attached. As an example, the pairing system mayinclude a pairing button 212 that a user depresses when in proximity tothe RFID device with information related to the liquid in the keg andtransfer this information from the RFID device to sensor 200. Sensor 200can then transmit this information related to the liquid in the keg to awireless network. An optional pairing light 214 may be included as anindication to the user that sensor 200 has been paired with the RFIDdevice. FIG. 13 depicts a user pairing a sensor to an RFID deviceattached to a hand hold aperture of a keg then installing the pairedsensor on the keg.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the pairing device andRFID devices are configured for short range use to avoid interferencewith other RFID devices that may be stored nearby. For example, in oneembodiment, the pairing system and RFID device have a maximum pairingrange of approximately 15 feet. In other embodiments, the pairing systemand RFID device have a maximum pairing range of approximately five (5)feet. In yet other embodiments, the pairing system and RFID device havea maximum pairing range of approximately two (2) feet. In still furtherembodiments, the pairing system and RFID device have a maximum pairingrange of approximately one (1) foot. The short range pairing feature mayhave particular advantages in environments where there are multiple kegswith a sensor 200 and RFID device attached to each keg. (See, e.g., FIG.14 ).

In at least one embodiment, each RFID device is programmed with a uniqueserial number and unique attributes of the liquid contained in the kegcan be assigned to the tag via a wireless network and the attributesassociated with a particular RFID device may be manipulated through thewireless network without requiring use of an RFID writer in closeproximity to the RFID device.

The sensors and sensor/transmitters disclosed herein are constructed ofmaterial sufficiently strong to carry the large weight loads of a fullkeg and capable of operating at low temperatures, such as would beencountered in a refrigerated location, and may include various types ofplastics, composites, metals, and/or alloys.

The keg sensor/transmitters may be sent in quantity to the beerdistributor's warehouse. At the beer distributor's warehouse, the kegsensor/transmitter may be installed on a keg. For example, in oneembodiment, the keg sensor/transmitter is mounted on the bottom of thekeg in the recessed cavity that is created where the convex portion ofthe keg comes in contact with the outer edge. The keg has a molded lipon the outer portion of the keg that allows a tongue-and-grove fittingto be pushed into place. To achieve the fitting of the kegsensor/transmitter to the bottom of the keg, one may use a suitable keginstaller, which will now be described in view of FIG. 7 .

The keg installer 250 in this embodiment is a fabricated aluminum andsteel platform consisting of three large pieces: the inbound ramp 252,the Plateau 254, and the outbound ramp 256. The inbound ramp 252 isapproximately four feet wide and six feet long. The inbound ramp 252 hasa total of approximately 20 rubber rollers 258 with each rollerapproximately 4 inches in width. The rollers 258 are mounted on aluminumrails spaced the width of a beer keg. There is a hollow space betweenthe rails. There are 10 rollers on the left rail and 10 rollers on theright rail. The beginning part of the inbound ramp 252 uses smallrollers that start at floor level. The inbound ramp 252 is on an inclinestarting at floor level then rising to approximately 5 inches off of theground.

In use, a beer distributor warehouse worker moves a full keg of beer tothe beginning of the inbound ramp 252 and positions the keg in themiddle of the ramp. The worker then slightly tips the keg and scoots itforward so the keg rests on the first rubber rollers of the inbound ramp252. The worker then pushes the keg up the inbound ramp 252 as it rollson the rubber rollers.

The inbound ramp 252 in this embodiment is bolted directly to thePlateau portion of the keg Installer. The Plateau has approximately 12rollers-6 rollers on the left rail and 6 rollers on the right rail. Therails and rollers in this embodiment match up exactly in alignment withthe rails and rollers on the inbound ramp 252.

The outbound ramp 256 in this embodiment is approximately four feet wideand six feet long and is bolted directly to the Plateau portion of thekeg installer 250. The outbound ramp 256 has approximately 20 rollerswith each roller approximately 4 inches in width. There are 10 rollerson the left rail and 10 rollers on the right rail. There is an openspace between the rails. The rails and rollers match up exactly inalignment with the rails and rollers on the Plateau. The outbound ramp256 is on a decline starting at approximately 5 inches off of the groundgoing down to floor level.

In the open space between the rails on the outbound ramp 256 is a kegsensor/transmitter Installation device. A keg sensor/transmitter that isready to be installed on to a keg is placed into the platform devicebetween the rails. As the keg descends the outbound ramp 256 the weightof the keg pushes down on the installation device platform triggering ahydraulic lever. That lever flexes the keg sensor/transmitter housingand pushes the keg sensor/transmitter housing into the cavity in thebottom of the keg. The hydraulic lever then un-flexes the kegsensor/transmitter housing, and the housing snaps into place in the kegbottom cavity.

The warehouse worker then continues to move the keg down the outboundramp 256 to floor level. The keg now has the keg sensor/transmitterinstalled, and it is ready to be delivered to the retailer. Thewarehouse worker now can put a new keg sensor/transmitter into the keginstaller 250 and repeat the process.

Once a keg is empty, it can be picked up by the beer distributordelivery driver to be returned to the beer distributor warehouse. Sincethe keg is now empty, the keg is very light and can be easily picked upand turned over by the delivery driver or warehouse employee. The kegsensor/transmitter can have the bar code or QR code assigned to it inthe distributor's inventory system. The keg sensor/transmitter in thisembodiment can be taken off of the keg by hand and can be put in one of,e.g., four bins.

Bin #1: The sensor is good and can be re-used. It is put in a binlabeled with the beer brand and type.

Bin #2: The beer brand and type is no longer in distributor inventory.The warehouse employee uses the SaaS Software to re-assign the kegsensor/transmitter's individual serial number to the SKU associated withanother beer brand and type.

Bin #3: The bar code is faded and needs to be replaced.

Bin #4: The battery life of the sensor has exceeded normal life, and thesensor needs to be returned to the system vendor.

At system initialization, the SaaS database can be populated with all ofthe current beer brand and type SKUs. As time goes by, however, new beerSKUs may appear. Each beer distributor warehouse and accounting employeeon the overall system can enter in new beer brands and types with theircorresponding SKUs. These new SKUs can be made available to all beerdistributor users across the entire overall system. That is, the processof updating new SKU's into the SaaS system can be crowdsourced.

The keg installer 250 in the embodiment just described is made of threepieces—the inbound ramp 252, the Plateau, and the outbound ramp 256—sothat it can be easily assembled and disassembled for shipping to beerdistributor warehouses. In alternative embodiments and situations, thekeg installer 250 can be used with the Plateau and the outbound ramp256, eliminating the inbound ramp 252. The option is up to the beerdistributor warehouse. By removing the inbound ramp 252, a forklift canbe driven up directly to the Plateau portion of the Installer, and thekeg can be moved off of the forklift onto the Plateau to complete theinstallation.

The keg installer 250 is both a mechanical installer of the kegsensor/transmitter plus is a point at which a warehouse worker can checkto be sure that the keg on which he is installing the kegsensor/transmitter matches the Order Pick List. As shown in FIG. 7 , asmall computer and monitor can be mounted to the keg installer 250. Inaddition, an uplink/gateway can be mounted on the keg installer 250.This uplink/gateway can have a desensitized receive antenna so that itonly receives the keg sensor/transmitter that is being installed ontothe keg. As the worker rolls the keg through the installation process,they can perform a visual check to make sure that the content of the kegthey have in front of them on the Installer matches what the SasS systemsays it should be, plus it matches the Order Pick List. That Order PickList in some embodiments can be a piece of paper with the order writtenon it, while in other embodiments the SaaS system can have an EDI(Electronic Data Interface) connection to the beer distributor'sinventory system.

So, for example, the keg that is being rolled onto the Installer mayhave a paper keg collar. A paper keg collar clipped on a keg's top valveis a common way of identifying the contents of a keg. The worker looksat the keg collar and sees that the beer in the keg is identified as“Bell's Founder's Ale”. As the worker installs the kegsensor/transmitter the unit transmits its serial number as KS1234 thruthe uplink/gateway. The SaaS application displays on the computermonitor that the sensor is associated to the SKU for “Bell's Founder'sAle,” and that confirms the correct Sensor Transmitter is being put onthe correct keg. The SaaS Software also displays the Order Pick List andthe warehouse worker can confirm that it is the correct keg/product togo out.

The top-mounted keg sensor/transmitter shown in FIG. 8 is a soundwave-based unit that can be mounted on the top of a keg in someembodiments of the present system, and can be mounted on the bottom orsides of the keg in other embodiments. The top-mounted kegsensor/transmitter may be mounted with its bottom surface sensor sideflush and flat with the top surface of the aluminum keg. To accomplishthat flush mounting, a top-mounted keg bracket may be used, such as onemade out of aluminum and/or steel. The bracket may be approximately 6inches in length. At the top of the bracket there can be a “Y”-shapedfork, and at the bottom of the bracket there can be a “T”-shaped end. Inthe middle can be the actual keg sensor/transmitter, which isapproximately 3 inches square in one embodiment. The top-mounted bracketcan be designed with a pressure spring, hand lever, and lock. Thebracket may be placed on the top of the keg with the “Y” shape upagainst the keg valve. A branch of the “Y” sits on either side of thevalve. The “T”-shaped end can rest in the outer edge of the top of thekeg. The bracket can be put into place and the hand lever pushed down,which creates pressure on the spring and flexes out and bows the bracketout and down. The bracket flexes out the “Y” and the “T,” and the handlever locks into place, securing the bracket to the keg with equal andopposing force on the “Y” at the valve and the “T” at the edge of thekeg top. The force also pushes the keg sensor/transmitter firmly ontothe top of the keg with the downward force. The action of the bracket inthis embodiment is similar to the concept behind a snow ski binding. Thebracket can be removed by unlocking the lever, the force is removed, andthe bracket is free.

The majority of beer kegs used by craft brewers in the county are leasedfrom one of two keg leasing companies. In certain embodiments,agreements with keg leasing companies and with keg manufacturers canallow a more permanent mount to be included on kegs for the top-mountedkeg sensor/transmitter.

The design form that may be used for the top-mounted sensor is similarto a large hockey puck. The flat side of the “puck” can sit on top ofthe keg, pressed against the top surface. In some systems, the datavendor works with keg manufacturers and keg-leasing companies tospot-weld an aluminum bracket to the top of each keg. The top-mountedkeg sensor/transmitter would then be attached to the top of the keg byattaching it to this welded bracket. In some embodiments, this designwould be very similar to a bayonet-mount camera lens. The round-shapedtop-mounted keg sensor/transmitter would have a three-pronged malebayonet mount. The bracket mounted on the top of the keg would have arecessed female bayonet mount. The keg sensor/transmitter would beplaced on the top of the mount, and with a one-quarter clockwise twist,the keg sensor/transmitter mount would be securely mounted onto the keg.

The uplink/gateway in various embodiments is a self-contained unit thatcan be mounted on the wall, such as outside of the beer cooler, of anon-premises retailer (bar or restaurant) that contracted with theirlocal beer distributor to use the service described herein. Theuplink/gateway can be a moisture-resistant, shock-resistant plastic boxthat contains radio receivers, computer hardware, computer software, andradio transmitters. Each uplink/gateway can have its own unique serialnumber that is embedded into the uplink/gateway software. Anuplink/gateway 289 according to at least one embodiment is depicted inFIG. 9 .

The uplink/gateway consists of two major areas and functions in someembodiment. The hardware radio receiver and software stack receives thedata transmissions from each keg sensor/transmitter within its range,which are typically the keg sensor/transmitter(s) in the nearby cooler.The receiver receives the data, organizes the data, and tags the datawith information unique to the individual uplink/gateway including theunit's unique serial number and version number. Once the receiver andsoftware stack has organized that data, it is sent to a gateway, e.g., aCDMA cell phone gateway. This overall system is illustrated in FIG. 10A.Information about the contents in each keg may also be communicated tothe sensor/transmitter using a separate data storage device (such as anRFID device) attached to the keg, which is paired with and transfersinformation to the sensor/transmitter for uplink to the larger network.

The CDMA uplink/gateway is a transmitter/receiver that contains bothradio hardware and software. The CDMA uplink/gateway in some embodimentscan be constructed with specifications provided by a wireless carrierpartner, such as Verizon Communications. (In other embodiments, ofcourse, GSM and/or other wireless data transmission protocols are usedinstead of or in addition to CDMA.) The uplink/gateway can join thecarrier's data service by connecting the closest cell phone tower to theon-premise retailer where the uplink/gateway has been placed. Theuplink/gateway relays the data from the keg sensor/transmitter(s) thathas been collected by the receiver. The CDMA uplink/gateway cancommunicate with the carrier's network to determine the longitude andlatitude of the Gateway and can transmit that data, its software versionnumber, and the data collected by the receiver to software, e.g., SaaSSoftware.

In some embodiments, after the keg sensor/transmitter is attached to thekeg, the keg is delivered to the on-premise retailer, a bar orrestaurant that sells draft beer. At the retailer the keg is placed inthe retailer's keg cooler. Once the keg is placed in the cooler, it isnow in radio range to join a network that includes the kegsensor/transmitter of each keg in the cooler as well as theuplink/gateway. As soon as the keg is placed into the cooler, the kegsensor/transmitter may begin transmitting data. The data transmitted caninclude the weight parameter (e.g., 0-20) from the sensor, the SensorTransmitter Serial Number (e.g., #KS1234), the version number of thesoftware (e.g., ver.0), and/or keg ID information (e.g., informationabout the fluid in a keg received from the RFID device associated withthe keg). This collection of data is transmitted to the uplink/gateway.The uplink/gateway acts as a conductor collecting data from all kegsensor/transmitters in the cooler and maintains its own serial number(#UG5678) and its own location longitude and latitude data (e.g.,latitude: 39.77572 longitude: −86.15569). The uplink/gateway collectsSensor Data then adds its own data that is transmitted via the carrier'sCDMA cell phone data network to the SaaS software. So an example datafeed would look like:

keg sensor/transmitter sends a data string:

keg_sensor_serial=KS1234&;weight_parameter=10&;keg_sensor_version=1.0&;gatewav_version=1.0&;keg_rfid=1234

This data string is received by the uplink/gateway, and theuplink/gateway embedded software adds its data. The combined data stringin this example would then be:

uplink_gateway_serial=UG1234&;long=39.77572&;lat=−86.15569&;=5&;keg_sensor_serial=KS1234&;weight_parameter=10&; keg_sensor_version=1.0&;gateway_version=1.0&;keg_rfid=1234

When there are multiple keg sensor/transmitters in a cooler, thecombined data string would look like:

uplink_gateway_serial=UG1234&;long=39.77572&;lat=−86.15569&;=5&;keg_sensor_serial=KS1234&;weight_parameter=10&;keg_sensor_version=1.0&;gateway_version=1.0&;keg_rfid=1234;keg_sensor_serial=KS5678&;weight_parameter=4&;keg_sensor_version=1.0&;gateway_version=1.0&;keg_rfid=5678;keg_sensor_serial=KS91011&;weight_parameter=3&;keg_sensor_version=1.0&;gateway_version=1.0;keg_rfid=91011

The data is collected and sent by the uplink/gateway through the CDMAcell data network, then over the Internet to the SaaS software. Uponreceipt by the SaaS software, the collected data from the kegsensor/transmitter can be correlated and saved in the database inseveral different ways.

The keg sensor/transmitter Serial Number may be correlated to an SKUthat matches the beer brand and type. The correlation between the SerialNumber and SKU has been pre-programmed into the SaaS Database or via thekeg RFID device. For example, if Serial Numbers KS0000 through KS1234have been assigned SKU998877665544, which is beer brand and type “Bell'sFounder's Ale,” then when the SaaS software receives data from KegSensor Serial Number KS1234, the SaaS software writes the data into thedatabase as being associated with that SKU, beer brand and type “Bell'sFounder's Ale.” The SaaS software can have programmed intelligence thatalso converts the weight parameter into a percentage of volume. So, forexample, if the keg sensor sends a weight measurement of 10 on a scaleof 0-20, that means the keg is half-weight, thus half-full. The SaaSsoftware converts weight to volume. 20 is full, 100%. 0 is empty, 0%.The scale of 0-20 is, therefore, converted by the SaaS software to 20steps of volume in percentage units.

The uplink/gateway can add its data to show the location of not only theUplink Gateway, but also the location of the keg sensor/transmittersthat it is collecting data from in its coolers. As an example, assumethat in the SaaS software the uplink/gateway serial number UG1234 hasbeen assigned to the location of retailer “Scotty's Bar and Restaurant.”So when the transmission of data from a keg sensor/transmitter is madethrough the uplink/gateway, the location of the keg is known. So, forexample, a keg sensor/transmitter KS1234 with weight parameter 10 may betransmitted to the SaaS software thru uplink/gateway UG1234. The SaaSSoftware has presumably already stored the location data of theuplink/gateway, the association of the keg sensor/transmitter to SKUBeer Type, and the conversion of weight to volume. When eachtransmission of data occurs in this embodiment, the SaaS databaseassigns a date and time stamp converted from UTC (Coordinated UniversalTime) to local time. So when the transmission of data occurs, and theSaaS software receives the data, the data is converted to report thatthe particular keg of “Bell's Founder's Ale” currently located at“Scotty's Bar and Restaurant” is 50% full at 10 PM today.

KS1234=Bell's Founder's Ale

UG1234=Scotty's Bar and Restaurant

Volume=50% (Weight value of 10 converted to %)

Date-Time=3.15.13 10:00 PM

The embedded software in the keg sensor/transmitter can haveintelligence built in. For example, it can regulate the time factor ofhow often the data is transmitted from the keg sensor/transmitter to theuplink/gateway. In one example, the software is set to send data everyhour time period, but that time period can be changed. The kegsensor/transmitter software has the intelligence to only transmit dataif the weight value has changed. In the future, the kegsensor/transmitter can also have the ability to transmit the ambienttemperature around the keg (cooler temp) and the keg sensor's remainingbattery life as a percentage.

One design of the keg sensor/transmitter uses short-range radiotechnology (e.g., ZigBee and/or Bluetooth) to connect and send data thruthe uplink/gateway. An alternative design, an example of which isillustrated in FIG. 10B, eliminates the uplink/gateway step by providingthe keg sensor/transmitter itself a direct CDMA cell data connection sothat the keg sensor/transmitter can transmit its data directly to theSaaS Software.

Still further versions of the Keg/Sensor Transmitter can change from thebottom-mounted weight sensor, to a top-mounted sensor. The top-mountedkeg sensor/transmitter uses sound wave technology to send a sound wavethrough the top of the keg. The sound wave can bounce off the top of theliquid (beer) and return to the keg sensor/transmitter. The interval oftime between the time at which the sound wave was sent and the time atwhich the return sound wave was received would be measured. Thismeasurement would be transmitted to the SaaS Software, which can convertthe time interval into a percentage of volume of the beer remaining. Ashort time interval would mean a fuller keg. A longer time would mean anemptier keg.

Now that we have the basic keg volume, date time, and location datacoming from the keg sensor/transmitter through the uplink/gateway intothe SaaS Software database, we can talk about how we act upon thegathered data. FIG. 11 provides a schematic illustration of some suchactions, while others will occur to those skilled in the art in view ofthis disclosure.

There are several levels of use of the gathered data that in theillustrated embodiments is now in the SaaS Software. The SaaS Softwarecan be set up with individual accounts for each Bar and Restaurantretailer using the service. A representative of the retailer can set upaccounts for each individual in their organization who interacts withkeg beer. The setup process can include adding each individual's smartphone/mobile phone number. The representative can set up rules based ontheir organization's individual needs. One function in the day-to-dayoperation can be to be able to have an insight into the current statusof their keg beer inventory. The representative can log onto the SaaSsoftware, then review current inventory and set rules for alerts basedon depletion rates of keg beer. In various embodiments, these alerts cantake on the form of SMS text sent to mobile phones, popup push alertsthat are part of iPhone, Android and other smart phone formats, emailssent out, recorded voice alerts sent to phones, and other forms thatwill occur to those skilled in the relevant technologies. The alerts canbe sent to retail workers based on their current location. The systemsoftware can take advantage of the location-based service built intoeach smart phone. The worker may only get alerts if they are in thegeographical longitude and latitude area that has already been definedin the SaaS database by the recording of the uplink/gateway assigned totheir place of work. This can assure that workers will not get alertsduring their off-shift hours. A manager who would like to get alertswhen they are off-site from their retail location can override thisfunction.

In other embodiments, alerts take the form of visual flashing lights andintegration into other software in the restaurant including, but notlimited to, POS terminals (Point of Sale, electronic “Cash Registers”).

The retail representative can assign a value to certain beer brands andtypes and customize alert based on the value of the beer, that is, theimportance of not running out of that beer. For example, the retailermight not value the “Stroh's Light” beer as much as the “Bell'sFounder's Ale.” So the retailer representative might set up the SaaSsoftware to automatically alert the designated retailer representativewhen the Stroh's reaches 10% remaining, while the more valuable Bell'swould automatically alert when the remaining beer registers in the SaaSsystem as 40% remaining. In alternative embodiments, patterns in therate of consumption of each product are taken into account, anddepletion events are forecasted so that alerts can be raised and orderscan be placed “just in time.”

When an alert is sent to the retailer, there can be multiple paths(e.g., four paths) that they can use to re-order the keg that is runninglow. If the alert comes to the retailer's phone, they can re-order bysending an SMS text message directly to their beer distributor salesrep, or by sending an SMS text message to an SMS gateway that iscontrolled by the system vendor and connected by EDI (Electronic DataInterchange) into the beer distributor's ordering system. Another optioncan be to activate a button in the user interface to initiate a voicecall to their beer distributor's sales rep. There can also be iPhone andAndroid smartphone applications that have a re-ordering functionbuilt-in, connecting by EDI to the beer distributor's ordering system.The interface of the smartphone application could have a visual alertwith the button option “re-order now,” which the retailer can choose.

In some embodiments, the retailer can set their account to have the SaaSsoftware automatically submit re-orders on kegs based on rules they setfor each brand and type of beer. For example they can set a rule toautomatically re-order “Bell's Founder's Ale” if the depletion level hasdropped below 40% and the day of the week is Wednesday thru Friday.

Retailers can have standard reports accessible to them via the SaaSweb-based platform or mobile app. These reports can include current andpast inventory reports, current and past keg depletion rates, and otherreports key to their operation.

Beer distributor sales representatives can see all of their accounts andthe current state of each retailer's keg inventory. The salesrepresentative can see when alerts on low kegs were sent out toretailers, who the alert was sent out to, and what action (if any) wastaken by the retailer to re-order the depleting, or depleted, keg. Themanagement of the beer distributor can have a near-real-time view ofcurrent beer depletion across all of their retail accounts. Thisnear-real-time data can allow them to more efficiently control theirinventory of kegs in their warehouse based on trends in usage.

The near-real-time data that the presently disclosed process may becollecting can also be used by breweries to determine what beers arebeing sold and at what rate. They then can adjust what beers they areplanning to brew and in what quantity they brew the beer. In the case oflarge breweries, they can adjust the purchasing of the ingredients ofbeer components on the grain futures market. The system vendor can alsosell data to marketing data firms who track trends in consumerconsumption.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, and API (ApplicationProgramming Interface) can be developed to allow other applications toaccess system data for real time software applications.

An example would be a consumer “Beer Finder” smartphone application. Thesmartphone application would integrate into the operation system of thesmartphone and be able to find the phone's exact location in longitudeand latitude. The app would then send a query the SaaS Database thru theAPI to find out the closest keg sensor/transmitter and uplink/gateway tothe person using the smartphone app. Near real time data of volume of abrand and type of a beer as well as its longitude and latitude locationhas already been recorded from the keg sensor/transmitter anduplink/gateway. So the smartphone app could show that “Bell's Founder'sAles” is at “Scotty's Bar and Restaurant,” which is X miles away fromyour location. The location could be plotted on a map. Plus the appcould get the data that the keg is currently 50% full and do the math todetermine (and display) that there are “currently 110 pints left” ofthis beer.

Simple social media integration services can be created for the retailerusing techniques understood by those skilled in the art. Using the dataalready in the SaaS Database, social media alerts can be sentautomatically based on rules set by the retailer. That retailer can beprompted during their initial SaaS web setup to have the option ofsending a TWITTER tweet or FACEBOOK status update when a new keg of beeris tapped. They would enter in their social media account name andpassword, then choose a template social message like:

“Just wanted to let you know that we just tapped a new keg of <BEERBRAND AND TYPE INSERTED HERE> at <NAME OF BAR-RESTAURANT LOCATION>. Comeon down and get a pint now! #greatbeer”

For example, say that retailer was “Scotty's Bar and Restaurant,” andthey have a new, full and untapped, keg of “Bell's Founder's Ale” intheir cooler. This keg has a keg sensor/transmitter that is reporting aweight value of 20, which translates into a 100% full keg. Once that kegis tapped, the beer is flowing and being sold, and is now reporting avalue of 19 the Twitter Tweet or Facebook Status Update is sent out:

“Just wanted to let you know that we just tapped a new keg of Bell'sFounder's Ale at Scotty's Bar and Restaurant North Side. Come on downand get a pint now! #greatbeer”

Other embodiments include integration into POS terminals (Point of Sale,electronic “Cash Registers”). These POS terminals have their own APIs(Application Programming Interface) that would allow the SaaS Softwareto query into the POS database to extract data. This extracted datawould then be added to the SaaS Database to be used for severalpurposes. For a given retailer, keg sensor/transmitters may be on somebut not all kegs in that retailer's cooler. By pulling out sales datafor a tap that is serving a given brand and type of beer, but is comingfrom a keg that does not have a keg sensor/transmitter, the SaaSapplication can estimate the keg depletion and the same alert rules andactions of re-order can be applied. In addition, a retailer can look atthe depletion rate of a keg with a keg sensor/transmitter and compare itwith the POS data on that same keg as it is reported by the POS system.By comparing the real volume data obtained from the present system withthe reported sales data, a retailer can assess waste and shrinkage onthat tap from “free pours” (keg beer poured to patrons to gain tips, orpours to employee friends).

The keg sensor/transmitter can be used in some embodiments to pinpointthe location of individual kegs in a warehouse.

Current technology for radio transmission and reception allows forlocation of a transmitted signal in a wide area. Using triangulationplotting a transmitter like the one on a keg sensor/transmitter would bea broad area. In the embodiments described in previous sections of thisdocument, the Sensor is put on a keg as it leaves the warehouse to bedelivered to the retailer. In other embodiments, however, the sensorcould be put on the keg as it is delivered from the brewery to the beerdistributor warehouse. As shown in FIG. 12 , additional locationtechnologies, whether now existing (such as RFID) or hereafterdeveloped, in such embodiments allow for pinpoint location of a keg in awarehouse. The location can be shown on a computer-drawn map of thewarehouse showing the X-axis and Y-axis location of an individual keg,but also the Z-axis. The Z-axis is the height, as when the keg isstacked up on a shelf. So in the future if a beer distributor is missinga keg, or group of kegs, by using the present system they could locatethe keg. There could be a plot on a screen that shows the missing keg isin row 2, aisle 3, shelf 3.

In some embodiments the keg sensor/transmitter can be a direct CDMA orother cellular data connection. Using the longitude and latitude datafrom each wireless-data-equipped keg sensor/transmitter, each keg can belocated when on the road for delivery and located after delivery todetermine whether the individual keg has been delivered to the correctlocation or delivered in error to the wrong location.

Other uses would include bulk containers of soda, such as COCA-COLA orPEPSI, and containers of home-delivered water, such as ICE MOUNTAIN andCULLIGAN.

There are several brands of home keg coolers marketed to consumers. Thekeg sensor/transmitter could be integrated into the design of these homecoolers to measure the remaining beer and alert the consumer.

Computers (which may be used as servers, clients, resources, interfacecomponents, and the like) utilized in conjunction with embodimentsdescribed herein can generally take the form shown in FIG. 15 . Computer300, as this example will generically be referred to, includes processor310 in communication with memory 320, output interface 330, inputinterface 340, and network interface 350. Power, ground, clock, andother signals and circuitry are omitted for clarity, but will beunderstood and easily implemented by those skilled in the art.

With continuing reference to FIG. 15 , network interface 350 in thisembodiment connects computer 300 to a data network (such as a direct orindirect connection to a server and/or a network 380) for communicationof data between computer 300 and other devices attached to the network.Input interface 340 manages communication between processor 310 and oneor more input devices 370, for example, microphones, pushbuttons, UARTs,IR and/or RF receivers or transceivers, decoders, or other devices, aswell as traditional keyboard and mouse devices. Output interface 330(which may take the form of a user interface) provides a video signal todisplay 360, and may provide signals to one or more additional outputdevices such as LEDs, LCDs, or audio output devices, or a combination ofthese and other output devices and techniques as will occur to thoseskilled in the art.

Processor 310 in some embodiments is a microcontroller or generalpurpose microprocessor that reads its program from memory 320. Processor310 may be comprised of one or more components configured as a singleunit. Alternatively, when of a multi-component form, processor 310 mayhave one or more components located remotely relative to the others. Oneor more components of processor 310 may be of the electronic varietyincluding digital circuitry, analog circuitry, or both. In oneembodiment, processor 310 is of a conventional, integrated circuitmicroprocessor arrangement, such as one or more CORE i7 HEXA processorsfrom INTEL Corporation of 2200 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara,Calif. 95052, USA, or ATHLON or PHENOM processors from Advanced MicroDevices, One AMD Place, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088, USA, or POWER8processors from IBM Corporation, 1 New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504,USA. In alternative embodiments, one or more application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)processors, general-purpose microprocessors, programmable logic arrays,or other devices may be used alone or in combination as will occur tothose skilled in the art.

Likewise, memory 320 in various embodiments includes one or more typessuch as solid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or opticalmemory, just to name a few. By way of non-limiting example, memory 320can include solid-state electronic Random Access Memory (RAM),Sequentially Accessible Memory (SAM) (such as the First-In, First-Out(FIFO) variety or the Last-In First-Out (LIFO) variety), ProgrammableRead-Only Memory (PROM), Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory(EPROM), or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory(EEPROM); an optical disc memory (such as a recordable, rewritable, orread-only DVD or CD-ROM); a magnetically encoded hard drive, floppydisk, tape, or cartridge medium; or a plurality and/or combination ofthese memory types. Also, memory 320 may be volatile, nonvolatile, or ahybrid combination of volatile and nonvolatile varieties. Memory 320 invarious embodiments is encoded with programming instructions executableby processor 310 to perform the automated methods disclosed herein.

It should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that areceiver as referred to herein includes devices that transmit andreceive electromagnetic signals, sometimes referred to as transceivers.

Various aspects of different embodiments of the present disclosure areexpressed in paragraphs X1, X2, and X3, as follows:

X1. One embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: attaching awireless electronic communication device to a container with liquid, thewireless electronic communication device being encoded with informationrelating to a characteristic of the liquid within the container;attaching a sensor/transmitter to the container; transferringinformation relating to a characteristic of the liquid within thecontainer from the wireless electronic communication device to thesensor/transmitter; determining the quantity of the fluid within thecontainer with the sensor/transmitter; and transmitting informationrelated to the weight of the container and the type of liquid within thecontainer from the sensor/transmitter to a computer database via awireless network.

X2. Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: asensor/transmitter adapted to attach to the container,sensor/transmitter including a liquid quantity sensor configured andadapted to detect the amount of liquid within the container, a receiverthat receives information related to the liquid in the container from awireless electronic communication device, and a transmitter thatreceives information from the receiver and from the liquid quantitysensor, wherein the transmitter transmits information received from thereceiver and the liquid quantity sensor to a wireless network.

X3. Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a pluralityof wireless electronic communication devices, each encodable withinformation identifying a characteristic of liquid within a container,each wireless electronic communication device being attachable to acontainer; a plurality of sensors each attachable to a container, eachsensor configured and adapted to measure the quantity of liquid withinthe container to which the sensor is attached, receive information fromone of the plurality of wireless electronic communication devicesattached to the same container as each sensor, the information relatingto at least one characteristic of the liquid within the container towhich the one wireless electronic communication device and the sensor isattached, and transmit information to a wireless network, thetransmitted information including information from the wirelesselectronic communication device including the characteristic of theliquid within the container to which the sensor is attached, andinformation about the weight of the container to which the sensor isattached; and a computer database that receives and stores informationfrom the plurality of sensors via the wireless network.

Yet other embodiments include the features described in any of theprevious statements X1, X2 or X3, as combined with one or more of thefollowing aspects:

Wherein one or more containers is a keg.

Attaching a sensor/transmitter to the bottom of the keg.

Weighing a keg with the sensor/transmitter.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter is adapted to fit within and attach tothe inner diameter of a keg bottom, the sensor/transmitter protrudingbelow the bottom of a keg when the keg is upright.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes an attachment clip adapted toengage a portion of the keg bottom and inhibit the sensor/transmitterfrom detaching from the keg when the keg is raised above a supportsurface.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes an abutment surface adapted toabut a surface of the keg and support a keg above a support surface whenthe sensor/transmitter is attached to the bottom of the keg and placedon a support surface.

Wherein the liquid quantity sensor is a weight sensor.

Wherein the liquid quantity sensor is a weight sensor configured andadapted to contact a support surface and measure the weight of a kegwhen the sensor/transmitter is attached to the bottom of a keg andplaced on a support surface.

Wherein each of the plurality of sensors is attachable to the bottom ofa keg.

Wherein each sensor is configured and adapted to measure the weight ofthe container to which the sensor is attached.

Positioning the wireless electronic communication device within five (5)feet of the sensor/transmitter, and wherein said transferringinformation relating to a characteristic of the liquid within the kegfrom the wireless electronic communication device to thesensor/transmitter occurs after said positioning.

Positioning the wireless electronic communication device within one (1)foot of the sensor/transmitter, and wherein said transferringinformation relating to a characteristic of the liquid within the kegfrom the wireless electronic communication device to thesensor/transmitter occurs after said positioning.

Determining the quantity of fluid in the keg using the informationrelated to the weight of the keg.

Transmitting information related to the quantity of fluid in the keg toa user interface.

Receiving information with the sensor/transmitter from the computerdatabase via the wireless network.

Wherein attaching a wireless electronic communication device to acontainer includes attaching an RFID tag to a hand hold aperture of akeg.

Wherein attaching a sensor/transmitter to a container includes attachingthe sensor/transmitter to the inside of a keg's false bottom.

Wherein the wireless communication device is encoded with informationrelating to the location of the keg.

Wherein said attaching a wireless electronic communication device to acontainer includes attaching an RFID tag to the container.

Attaching a plurality of wireless electronic communication device to aplurality of containers with liquid, each wireless electronic devicebeing attached to a separate container, each wireless electroniccommunication device being encoded with information relating to acharacteristic of the liquid within the container to which the wirelesselectronic communication device is attached.

Attaching a plurality of sensor/transmitters to a plurality ofcontainers, each sensor/transmitter being attached to a separatecontainer.

Attaching a plurality of sensor/transmitters to the bottom of aplurality of kegs, each sensor/transmitter being attached to a separatekeg.

Transferring information relating to a characteristic of the liquidwithin each of a plurality of containers from each of the wirelesselectronic communication device attached to a container to thesensor/transmitter attached to the same container.

Transferring information relating to a characteristic of the liquidwithin each of a plurality of kegs from each of the wireless electroniccommunication device attached to a keg to the sensor/transmitterattached to the same keg.

Weighing each of the plurality of containers with the sensor/transmitterattached to each container.

Weighing each of the plurality of kegs with the sensor/transmitterattached to each keg.

Transmitting information related to the weight of each of the pluralityof containers and the type of liquid within each of the plurality ofcontainers from the sensor/transmitter attached to each container to acomputer database via a wireless network.

Transmitting information related to the weight of each of the pluralityof kegs and the type of liquid within each of the plurality of kegs fromthe sensor/transmitter attached to each keg to a computer database via awireless network.

Wherein each sensor/transmitter transmits the information to anuplink/gateway, and wherein the uplink/gateway transmits the informationto the wireless network.

Wherein the receiver receives information related to the liquid in thecontainer from an wireless electronic communication device attached tothe container when the receiver and the wireless electroniccommunication device are within five (5) feet of one another.

Wherein the receiver receives information related to the liquid in thecontainer from an wireless electronic communication device attached tothe container when the receiver and the wireless electroniccommunication device are within one (1) foot of one another.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes four (4) weight sensorsconfigured and adapted to contact the support surface and measure theweight of a container when the sensor/transmitter is attached to thebottom of a container and placed on a support surface.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes five (5) attachment clips, eachadapted to engage a portion of the container bottom and inhibit thesensor/transmitter from detaching from the container when the containeris raised above a support surface.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes a pairing actuator and a pairingindicator, wherein said pairing indicator indicates when the receiverpairs with a wireless electronic communication device encoded withinformation relating to a characteristic of the fluid within acontainer.

Wherein the pairing actuator is a button.

Wherein the pairing indicator is a light.

Wherein the wireless electronic communication device is an RFID device.

Wherein the wireless electronic communication device is an RFID tag.

Wherein one or more of the sensor/transmitters (or sensors) isdoughnut-shaped.

Wherein one or more attachment clips are configured and adapted toconnect to and disconnect from a container by hand.

Wherein the sensor/transmitter includes a battery compartment forstoring a battery and connecting a battery stored within the compartmentto power the weight sensor, receiver and transmitter.

Wherein each of the one or more wireless electronic communicationdevices is an RFID tag attachable by hand to a hand hold aperture in akeg.

Wherein each of the one or more sensors are configured and adapted to beattached and detached from inside the hidden bottom of a keg by hand.

Wherein each of one or more sensors is configured and adapted to pairwith a wireless electronic communication device when the sensor iswithin five (5) feet of the wireless electronic communication device anda user actuates the pairing, each of the plurality of sensors includingan pair indicator indicating when the sensor and a wireless electroniccommunication device are paired.

Wherein each of one or more sensors is configured and adapted to pairwith a wireless electronic communication device when the sensor iswithin one (1) foot of the wireless electronic communication device anda user actuates the pairing, each of the plurality of sensors includingan pair indicator indicating when the sensor and a wireless electroniccommunication device are paired.

Wherein a sensor includes a transmitter for communicating with awireless network.

Wherein a sensor/transmitter includes a transmitter for communicatingwith a wireless network.

Reference systems that may be used herein can refer generally to variousdirections (e.g., upper, lower, forward and rearward), which are merelyoffered to assist the reader in understanding the various embodiments ofthe disclosure and are not to be interpreted as limiting. Otherreference systems may be used to describe various embodiments, such asreferring to the direction of projectile movement as it exits thefirearm as being up, down, rearward or any other direction.

While examples, one or more representative embodiments and specificforms of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive or limiting. The description ofparticular features in one embodiment does not imply that thoseparticular features are necessarily limited to that one embodiment.Features of one embodiment may be used in combination with features ofother embodiments as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in theart, whether or not explicitly described as such. One or more exemplaryembodiments have been shown and described, and all changes andmodifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desiredto be protected.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for supporting a beverage container,comprising: a sensor structure configured to removable support theoutside of the beverage container and fit within an inner diameter of abottom of the beverage container a plurality of sensors within thesensor structure, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured tomeasure a combined weight of the beverage container and contentscontained in the beverage container, and wherein the sensor structuresupports the beverage container when disposed between the bottom of thebeverage container and a surface; and a transmitter communicativelycoupled to at least one of the plurality of sensors, the transmitterconfigured to transmit the combined weight of the beverage container andthe contents contained in the beverage container; a communicationgateway configured to receive the combined weight of the beveragecontainer and the contents of the beverage contained in the beveragecontainer; and transmit the combined weight data to an output devicethat provides the combined weight data to a display.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising: a receiver within the sensor structure andcommunicatively coupled to at least one information tag associated withthe beverage container; and wherein the receiver is configured toreceive information regarding the contents contained in the beveragecontainer provided by the at least one information tag.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the receiver is communicatively coupled to thetransmitter, and wherein the receiver is further configured to providethe information regarding the contents contained in the beveragecontainer to the transmitter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a power source within the sensor structure, the power sourceconfigured to provide power to the receiver and the plurality ofsensors.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a pairing buttonconfigured to pair the receiver with the at least one information tagwhen depressed, and an indicator configured to indicate pairing of thereceiver and the at least one information tag.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the sensor structure is toroidal-shaped.
 7. An apparatus forsupporting a beverage container, comprising: a plurality of weightsensors, wherein each of the plurality of weight sensors is configuredto measure a weight of the beverage container; an abutment surfacemember disposed between the plurality of weight sensors and at east oneexternal surface of the bottom of the beverage container wherein theabutment surface member fits within an inner diameter of the bottom ofthe beverage container; and a transmitter communicatively coupled to atleast one of the plurality of weight sensors, the transmitter configuredto transmit the weight of the beverage container a communication gatewayhaving a location and configured to receive the weight of the beveragecontainer, add the weight of the beverage container to a data feed, andtransmit the data feed to a display that displays at least the weight ofthe beverage container and the location.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the abutment surface member is disc-shaped, and wherein theplurality of weight sensors are arranged on a bottom side of theabutment surface member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein theabutment surface member is configured to be located within a falsebottom of the beverage container, and further configured to bereleasably coupled from the beverage container.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the abutment surface member is toroidal-shaped, andwherein the plurality of weight sensors are arranged in a circularpattern.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a receivercommunicatively coupled to the transmitter and to at least oneidentification tag associated with the beverage container, the receiverconfigured to receive content identification information from the atleast one identification tag associated with the beverage container andto provide the content identification information to the transmitter,wherein the content identification information includes a brand, aproduct name, a brew type, an alcohol percentage, or combinationsthereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a batterycoupled to the receiver, the transmitter, and the plurality of weightsensors.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the beverage container isa keg.
 14. A system for monitoring the contents of a beverage containercomprising: a sensor structure configured to fit within a bottom cavityof the beverage container and be disposed under at least one surface ofthe beverage container such that the sensor structure measures a weightof the beverage container, the sensor structure comprising: a pluralityof weight sensors, each of the plurality of weight sensors configured tomeasure the weight of the beverage container; a receiver configured toreceive the weight of the beverage container; and a transmitter coupledto the receiver, the transmitter configured to transmit the weight ofthe beverage container; a communication gateway configured to receivethe weight of the beverage container from the transmitter, and transmitthe weight of the beverage container; a computer database configured toreceive the weight of the beverage container from the communicationgateway; and a mobile device in communication with the computerdatabase, the mobile device configured to receive at least the weightinformation associated with the beverage container.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, which further comprises an identification tag configured forremovable attachment to the beverage container, the identification tagconfigured to provide identification information about the contents ofthe beverage container, the identification information at leastincluding at least one of a brand or beverage or a product name.
 16. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the communication gateway is furtherconfigured to transmit location information to the computer database.17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location information isassociated with an establishment serving the contents of the beveragecontainer.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device furtherreceives the location information from the computer database.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the computer database is further configuredto provide at least one of alerts or notifications pertaining to thebeverage container to the mobile device.